Renault HBC could be spawning a Kwid-based compact SUV that will take on Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza and Ford EcoSport
Renault Kwid has been the most successful product ever sold by the French manufacturer in the Indian market recently. With its sublime monthly sales figures hitting new heights for the brand and the consistency assured with increased bookings, Renault is trying to make use of the platform and spawn further vehicles out of it for domestic as well as global markets.
Renault’s first step in captivating masses in the entry-level segment has come good and it could be venturing into the compact sedan and SUV segments soon if the rumours are to be believed. In the midst of all that, Autopista has come up with artistic rendering of the compact SUV based on the Kwid small hatchback.
Also Read: Renault Kwid to Feature Four Airbags and ABS in Brazil
Speculations surfaced on the internet suggested that the sub-four metre SUV will be entering the highly competitive Indian market as well. Therefore, the rendered picture carries all the importance. It is expected to be based on the global CMF-A+ architecture (Common Module Family), an improved form of Kwid’s current platform.
It will be responsible for the manufacturing of sedans and SUVs of compact structure with medium capacity engines. The Renault Kwid based compact SUV has been internally codenamed as HBC and will be positioned between the Kwid and the Duster in the brand’s SUV portfolio.
Also Read: Renault Planning to Expand Its Network in India Aggressively
When or if launched, the production version of the HBC will go up against some of the healthy competitors such as Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Ford EcoSport, Mahindra TUV300 and the forthcoming Tata Nexon. The increased competition in the compact SUV space has led to stylish products being offered with heavy localisation of parts.
The challenge for Renault could lie in sharing components with the Kwid that has more than 98 per cent localisation levels – allowing them to price the entry-level hatchback aggressively with several first-in-class features. Alongside the mandated traits of creating a compact SUV that can be spacious, economical and sturdy with increased ground clearance, Renault could follow the same trend in pricing the model very competitively.
Image Source:autopista.es